Hey everyone! It’s Clara Kensie, back with a new Question of the Week! Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as writing is talking about writing. So each week here at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
November 17, 2013
What is your favorite (non-electronic) writing tool?
Hello, friends! Earlier this month, we talked about our favorite writing software. Let’s switch it around this week and talk about our favorite writing tools that don’t require computers or software or even electricity! What is your favorite non-electronic writing tool?
My answer: My thesaurus! Yes, I know there’s thesaurus.com, but nothing beats my bulky, hard-cover, four-pound thesaurus. Even when I’m writing with the internet on, I still turn to my print thesaurus to find the perfect word. I have a writing cave, but quite often I’ll write at the library, a coffee shop, or at a friend’s house. No matter where I write, I lug that beast of a book with me. I use Post-It notes to bookmark my most-looked-up words (interesting tidbit: my most-looked-up words are “walk” and “look,” senses and emotions, as well as shades of colors). My thesaurus is my favorite non-electronic writing tool, and one of my most frequently used writing tools, electronic or otherwise.
What about you? What’s your favorite non-electronic writing tool - a moleskine notebook? A favorite pen? A comfortable chair? Tell us here!
I don't think I use anything non-electronic anymore. Unless...a cup of tea? Does that count? :)
ReplyDeleteOf course a cup of tea counts! As a matter of fact, I'm drinking a cup of tea right now. :-)
DeleteI always use Parker ball pens, always blue. I've gone through half a dozen of them in the last few years. In fact, I had to buy one a few weeks ago because the previous one, erm, burped ink all over me! We've been through many shades - red, pink, blue. Currently on jet black but I wonder how long this one will last! I can't plan my novels without them it seems.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever used a Parker pen, but next time I'm at an office supply store, I will try one!
DeletePURPLE PENS and PILES of 3x5 cards for plotting and note-taking!
ReplyDeleteI feel somewhat lame for saying this but I agree with your answer. Also, I couldn't write without my favorite coffee mug.
ReplyDeleteHeee! I have a favorite coffee mug to drink from while I'm writing, so I know exactly how you feel. Mine is a white and pink ceramic travel mug. :-)
DeletePost it notes rock for me. They are a staple to my daily writing life.
ReplyDeleteI use a ton of Post-its too! They are all over the walls of my writing cave. I also use them to make longer notes when I print out my manuscript.
DeleteFor me it has to be my big black journal and pencil. I know the pencil seems a bit non-permanent, but I like using it because I erase a ton. My journal goes everywhere with me though. I jot all my ideas there, have photos of inspiration and my kids stuffed between the pages, and tabs separating craft ideas, sketch ideas, and writing ideas which of course take up the majority of the journal.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! What a valuable journal!
DeleteI LOVE mechanical pencils. I have far more than any human being needs along with little plastic boxes of leads and erasers. I also really like notebooks (5X8 in.) with lines on one side of the paper and graph paper on the other. When I find those, I buy a bunch.
ReplyDeleteI prefer mechanical pencils over regular pencils too. No worries about sharpening them. I have a box full of them. I don't know if I've ever seen the kind of notebooks you're describing, but they sound very useful!
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